Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD today received Government approval for a Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas including a moratorium on the development of LNG import terminals pending the completion of review of security of supply. The policy statement stems from a commitment in the Programme for Government, and confirms that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas
Minister Ryan said,“Fracked gas causes environmental damage both locally where it is extracted and globally and Ireland, having banned its exploitation onshore, should not impose these environmental risks on other communities around the globe. I remain as determined as ever to halt the damage caused by fracking and will pursue all opportunities at a European level and also at an international level to do so.”
A legal ban on the importation of fracked gas cannot be put in place at this time. To do so would require changes to international rules, such as European energy laws. Such changes could facilitate the implementation of a legal ban or restriction on the importation of fracked gas in the future. This policy statement commits the Government to pursuing this as part of the upcoming revision of the European Union’s Gas Directive and Gas Regulation.